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DMN: Roger Staubach: Behind ‘fantastic’ Dak Prescott, Cowboys ‘obviously’ going to Super Bowl
When Roger Staubach was drafted 129th in the 1964 NFL draft, he was drafted as what was called a "future pick." Staubach still had a season to go at the U.S. Naval Academy, after winning the Heisman Trophy his 1963 junior year.
He also would go on to serve in Vietnam.
The Cowboys were just locking him in for the future.
Dak Prescott was drafted 52 years and six picks later than Staubach - 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Yes, he'd sign with the Cowboys immediately and make his way to training camp just months after the draft. But for all intents and purposes, he, too, was a future pick. Perhaps he'd be the future of a franchise with an aging quarterback.
Prescott's future came a little faster than Staubach's did.
Staubach can't believe how fast the 23-year-old has quarterbacked the Cowboys to 8-1.
"Dak is so mature," Staubach said Thursday. "It's just amazing what he's done. Being an old NFL quarterback - you just don't know until he gets into that situation. He did it in college but you don't know if he could transfer that to NFL but he has."
Staubach started his career later than Prescott - he was 27 as a rookie when he backed up Craig Morton, playing in six games but starting just one. He threw a single touchdown and two picks that season. But by 1970, he'd seized Morton's job going on a Dak-like 10-game win streak through the 1971 season to a Dallas Super Bowl victory. Prescott hasn't done that yet. Staubach thinks "little Dakker," as he calls him, can.
"Little Dakker's playing fantastic football," Staubach said.
"I am obviously a big Cowboys fan, and we are going to the Super Bowl this year. I'm not sure who we're going to play yet ... but it is fun watching the Cowboys. It's a fun season."
Staubach also spoke to Prescott's poise.
"He makes good decisions, he makes quick decisions, he's just composed," Staubach said. "You've got to transfer your confidence to your teammates to be a successful quarterback because it's a team game - and he can do that. Tony did that too. They're both really good quarterbacks."
Staubach relates to Romo watching from the sidelines. When he separated his shoulder in 1972, Morton returned behind center until a divisional playoff game vs. San Francisco, when Staubach engineered two late-game touchdown drives for the 30-28 comeback.
"It's kind of like how Tony feels," Staubach said of his 1972 season. "You're really competitive and you want to play, but the team's doing well and you support the team.
"Dallas is sitting there with two really good quarterbacks right now in Dak and Tony. Tony says 'Hey, this is Dak's team right now,' but if something would happen, you never know. We've got Tony and that's what happened with me. I came in [in the playoffs after being hurt] and did real well."
For Staubach, who still calls Dallas home and roots on the team he spent his whole career with, he just wants the Cowboys winning. It's about the team, as Romo and Prescott have emphasized repeatedly through the season and this week.
"Worst case I want to be 14-2 going to the playoffs," Staubach said. "I'm a fan of both these guys so it's kind of hard. Tony's a class act as you know by his statement two nights ago. But they just want to win. I just want the Cowboys to win."
DMN: Roger Staubach: Behind ‘fantastic’ Dak Prescott, Cowboys ‘obviously’ going to Super Bowl
When Roger Staubach was drafted 129th in the 1964 NFL draft, he was drafted as what was called a "future pick." Staubach still had a season to go at the U.S. Naval Academy, after winning the Heisman Trophy his 1963 junior year.
He also would go on to serve in Vietnam.
The Cowboys were just locking him in for the future.
Dak Prescott was drafted 52 years and six picks later than Staubach - 135th overall in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Yes, he'd sign with the Cowboys immediately and make his way to training camp just months after the draft. But for all intents and purposes, he, too, was a future pick. Perhaps he'd be the future of a franchise with an aging quarterback.
Prescott's future came a little faster than Staubach's did.
Staubach can't believe how fast the 23-year-old has quarterbacked the Cowboys to 8-1.
"Dak is so mature," Staubach said Thursday. "It's just amazing what he's done. Being an old NFL quarterback - you just don't know until he gets into that situation. He did it in college but you don't know if he could transfer that to NFL but he has."
Staubach started his career later than Prescott - he was 27 as a rookie when he backed up Craig Morton, playing in six games but starting just one. He threw a single touchdown and two picks that season. But by 1970, he'd seized Morton's job going on a Dak-like 10-game win streak through the 1971 season to a Dallas Super Bowl victory. Prescott hasn't done that yet. Staubach thinks "little Dakker," as he calls him, can.
"Little Dakker's playing fantastic football," Staubach said.
"I am obviously a big Cowboys fan, and we are going to the Super Bowl this year. I'm not sure who we're going to play yet ... but it is fun watching the Cowboys. It's a fun season."
Staubach also spoke to Prescott's poise.
"He makes good decisions, he makes quick decisions, he's just composed," Staubach said. "You've got to transfer your confidence to your teammates to be a successful quarterback because it's a team game - and he can do that. Tony did that too. They're both really good quarterbacks."
Staubach relates to Romo watching from the sidelines. When he separated his shoulder in 1972, Morton returned behind center until a divisional playoff game vs. San Francisco, when Staubach engineered two late-game touchdown drives for the 30-28 comeback.
"It's kind of like how Tony feels," Staubach said of his 1972 season. "You're really competitive and you want to play, but the team's doing well and you support the team.
"Dallas is sitting there with two really good quarterbacks right now in Dak and Tony. Tony says 'Hey, this is Dak's team right now,' but if something would happen, you never know. We've got Tony and that's what happened with me. I came in [in the playoffs after being hurt] and did real well."
For Staubach, who still calls Dallas home and roots on the team he spent his whole career with, he just wants the Cowboys winning. It's about the team, as Romo and Prescott have emphasized repeatedly through the season and this week.
"Worst case I want to be 14-2 going to the playoffs," Staubach said. "I'm a fan of both these guys so it's kind of hard. Tony's a class act as you know by his statement two nights ago. But they just want to win. I just want the Cowboys to win."
at the idea of a Garrett lead Cowboys team winning a Super Bowl.
